The AP spoke to a fire department spokesman, who described a "hellish" scene. Josue Garcia told the AP that many prisoners "burned to death or suffocated in their cells."

Quoting a prison's director, the AFP reports the fire was not caused by a riot. The wire service adds:

"The blaze was believed to have broken out around 10:50 pm Tuesday (0450 GMT Wednesday), Orellana said, adding that investigators were looking into whether it was caused by an inmate or by a short circuit.

"The prison held around 850 prisoners."

The BBC spoke to some of the relatives of the prisoners, who said many of the inmates escaped the flames by breaking through the roof and jumping from the building. Others "died trapped in their cells and were burned beyond recognition."

La Prensa reports this is yet another in long list of prison revolts in Honduras. The last one, reports the paper, happened on Oct. 15 and killed 9 inmates.

Update at 12:12 p.m. ET. 'My Heart Is With The Families':

Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa offered his condolences to the family members of those who died.

"My deepest sympathies go to those families who cry today," Sosa said in a press conference according to La Prensa. "My heart is is with the families."

Sosa also announced that a Chilean team would come to the country to help with identifying the remains.

Update at 10:23 a.m. ET. The Scene Outside The Prison:

Xiomara Orellana, a reporter for the La Prensa, is outside the prison in Comayagua. She tweeted a picture that shows a mass of people gathered outside, waiting for information. She reports that extra police have been ordered to the prison.

Orellana says at one point the crowd was so desperate for information, they tore through the gates and police had to fire tear gas. Orellana says the crowd is under control now.